LITERATURE

Literature Autographs

This category includes literary autographs, including autograph letters (ALS), manuscripts, signed portraits and books signed or inscribed by their authors. The emphasis is on 19th and 20th Century writers in English but this selection from our stock includes writers and literature of all genres and nationalities.

THOMAS ADOLPHUS TROLLOPE Autograph Letter Signed. British (English) novelist, journalist and traveller. Elder brother of Anthony Trollope. ALS. 2pp. Florence. 20th May 1865. To Miss [Anna] Blackwell. "I thank you much for the kind sympathy you express in your note. The blow which has fallen upon me has indeed been a heavy one. My child is now with my brother in the neighbourhood of London and I am in my empty house, alone! I am trying to sell it; and am detained here sorely against my will by business connected with the sale of it. You will be.....

KATHARINE TYNAN Autograph Letter Signed. Katharine Tynan Hinkson. Irish novelist and poet. ALS. 1p. Sylvanmount, Shankill, Co. Dublin. June 13th 1920. To "My Dear [Arthur St John] Adcock". "If this book has been sent to you for review, will you give it to me to do? If it has not I shall see that it is sent. I feel the appeal of the letter and I think you will. We are here for a few months to come, both boys out of the army and with us, Pat going up for Cambridge in the Autumn, he [. . .?] on.....

HORACE WALPOLE autograph letter Signed. English novelist, man of letters and art historian. Author of the gothic novel 'The Castle of Otranto'. ALS. 1p. New Burlington P[lace]. February 13th [no year]. To Col[onel] W. N. M. "Sir, I received yours of the 6th inst. inquiring after Mr Smith and am sorry it is not in my power to give you a more satisfactory account of him. He is I believe at Shrewsbury but has obtained an additional leave of absence as his health is not sufficiently reestablished to permit him to join the Regiment. I am Sir your most ob[edien]t.....

HUGH WALPOLE Typed Letter Signed. Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole. British (English) novelist. TLS. 1p. 33 Cardiff Road, Mountain Ash on 34 York Terrace, Regents Park, NW1 headed notepaper. July 18th 1922. To [Arthur St John] Adcock. "I wonder whether you could find it possible to give Mr Joseph Keating, whose novels possibly you have read, a few minutes. I should personally be most grateful if you would. I wonder whether you could give Mr Keating a little reviewing? He is very intelligent and has a wide knowledge of many different subjects. I would be most grateful if you found.....

MRS HUMPHRY WARD Autograph Letter Signed. Mary Augusta Ward nee Arnold, known as Mrs Humphry Ward. Australian born British novelist and writer. ALS. 4pp, together with original envelope. Stocks, Tring. September 3rd 1894. To Edm[un]d K[ell] Blyth. "I am ashamed to have kept your kind and interesting letter so long unanswered. But I am always somewhat lamed by writer's cramp and my letters are apt to linger, against my will. I should be very glad to see the Life of William Ellis you so kindly offer me, and have no doubt I should find it suggestive. My own.....

EVELYN WAUGH Autograph Post-Card Signed.English novelist. Author of 'Brideshead Revisited', 'Decline and Fall', etc.ANS (signed with initials) on post-card. Combe Florey House, Nr Taunton. Not dated (but postmarked 21st July 1958). To Miss Dorothy Collins, Top Meadow Cottage, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire."Many thanks for your kind permission to print the letter from G.K. Chesterton."In fine condition.Dorothy Collins was the secretary of G.K. Chesterton. The note is probably in connection with the biography of the Catholic priest and writer Ronald Knox, on which Evelyn Waugh had been working at Combe Florey over a period of about two years...

P G WODEHOUSE Telegram. Pelham Grenville Wodehouse. English novelist and humourist. An original Post Office Telegraph sent from Picadilly Church Place (Post Office) to Amy Elliott, Empire [Theatre] Leicester Square. 3rd January 1914. "Good luck Micky precious. You and the other stenographers are going to make a hit of the show. Winky". With old pencil note to verso 'Telegraph from PGW (Winky) to Micky'. 22 x 14 cms (8.75 x 5.5 inches). Loss to top left corner, some creasing and fraying to edges. Very good. The show referred to is almost certainly 'Nuts and Wine', a musical.....

HUMBERT WOLFE Typed Letter Signed. Italian born British poet and man of letters. TLS. 1p. Montague House, Whitehall, SW1. 20th August 1928. To [Arthur] St John Adcock. "I will let you have a note on some book which has been insufficiently noticed in the course of the week in accordance with the request contained in your letter of the 17th August. Yours sincerely, Humbert Wolfe." Oblong 8vo. 10 x 17.5 cms (4x 7 inches). Fine. Arthur St John Adcock was editor of the literary periodical 'The Bookman' and Humbert Wolfe here writes to him in that capacity, presumably.....